Free Fees Initiative (Full Time Undergraduate only)

Please note that to be eligible for the Free Fees scheme students must first qualify for the
EU fee rate. See here for more on the EU fee rate.

Fee status and the Free Fees Initiative

Under the terms of the Free Fees Initiative, the Irish Exchequer will pay tuition fees to the University on behalf of students registered for the first time on qualifying, full-time, undergraduate degree programmes.Such programmes must be of a minimum duration of 2 years.

Part-time programmes are not covered under the Free Fees Initiative.

Free Fees:
Students are generally automatically assessed for “free” fees for undergraduate programmes. However if you are not a current school leaver or have – for example - a non-EU place of birth but have EU nationality you may need to provide us with additional documentation (please read this page carefully for the criteria for “free fees” and the documentation that you might need to provide).

How it works This flow chart provides a graphical overview of how we assess eligibility for “free” fees.

If you wish to have your eligibility for the ‘Free Fees’ initiative assessed then your supporting documentation must be accompanied by a signed confirmation. If you have previously attended, or were accepted to but did not attend, a 3rd level institution and wish to have your eligibility for the 'Free Fees' initiative assessed, please complete the HEA Free Fees Initiative – Fee Declaration form for each institution in question and return as directed (along with any other documentation that you might need to provide). If you have attended third level education outside of the Republic of Ireland, or cannot complete the Fee Declaration form, then you must provide a letter from the relevant institution stating your dates of attendance.

It is important that you read and clearly understand the qualification criteria that apply, as well as the terms and limits of the Free Fees Initiative.

1. General

All the criteria for eligibility must be met in full prior to commencing a programme. Once registered the student’s status cannot subsequently be changed

Students who qualify for free fees under the Free Fees Initiative will receive funding for their tuition fees for the normal completion of their chosen programme

Students must understand that the application of free fees is limited and not open-ended

Tuition will be paid for the first attempt at a module only

Repeat fees are not covered under the Free Fees Initiative

Each programme has a minimum or ‘default’ number of credits to be attempted and passed for the award of a degree - for example - a student undertaking an Arts degree is required to attempt and pass 180 credits; a student undertaking an Engineering or Science degree, 240 credits and so on

Free fees will cover the tuition element of the programme fee up to the default number of credits required for the award of the degree

IMPORTANT: Any additional credits taken in excess of this limit by way of choice, 2nd attempts, substitution, resit or repeat must be paid for in full by the student

2. Who may qualify for free tuition fees under the free fees initiative?

There are three criteria for qualification.All must be met in full prior to commencing a degree programme.

A. Students must belong to one or more of the following categories:-

are EU*, EEA* nationals or nationals of the Swiss Confederationor

have been naturalised as an EU*, EEA* national or a national of the Swiss Confederation during the course of their programme(and meet the residency criterion)or

have official Refugee status in the Republic of Irelandor

are family members of official refugees who are granted permission by the Minister for Justice and Law Reform to enter the Republic of Ireland and to reside in the Republic of Irelandor

have leave to reside in the Republic of Ireland on humanitarian grounds i.e. "Humanitarian leave to remain in the State”or

have permission to remain in the Republic of Ireland as a family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen and have the classification "4EUFam"on their GNIB cardor

be a person in respect of whom the Minister for Justice has granted permission to remain following a determination not to make a deportation order
or

be a person granted ‘subsidiary protection with permission to reside in the State’

Additionally -

students who have been verifiably absent from 3rd level education for a minimum of 5 years since attempting, but not completing, a first-time degree AND who belong to one of the above categories may be considered “second chance” i.e. eligible for a further round of funding under the Free fees Initiative.

Note that students who have already completed a first-time undergraduate degree or who have a postgraduate qualification are never entitled to further funding under the Initiative

B. All students must meet a Residency criterion:

All students must have been ordinarily resident* in the EU/EEA/ Swiss Confederation** for a minimum of 3 of the 5 years prior to commencing a programme at UCD.

Important Note:
For determination of eligibility for free tuition fees the place of residence of a student is deemed to be their place of education. This means that if a student receives their full-time education in a non-EU/EEA/ Swiss jurisdiction they will not be eligible for free fees.
Definitions:* Ordinarily resident means being resident in the EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation for a minimum of 183 days in any one calendar year for a minimum of 3 years

An EU/EEA/Swiss passport or EU/EEA/Swiss citizenship does not grant automatic entitlement to EU fees. Applicants must meet one of the above EU fee rate conditions

Any period of residence as a student, or as holder of a conditional visa (e.g. Stamp 2 or 3) is not included in the assessment of years of residence

The dependents of non-EU diplomatic staff based in the EU are entitled to EU (not free fees). This includes the minor/dependent adult children who are in full time post-primary education and the spouse/the civil partner of the non-EU diplomatic staff. They must present a letter from their Embassy each year to verify their entitlement

Students who are the children of Semi State Agency officials, Government officials (all Departments), Irish officials working with the UN, and children of volunteer development workers who reside in non-EU countries as a result of their appointments must note that as and from September 2013, the exemption from meeting normal EU residency requirements will cease. The Department of Education and Skills has withdrawn this concession for legal reasons (30 January 2013)

Minor and dependent adult children who are in full time post-primary education, the spouse/the civil partner of Irish State Officials, and comparable EU/EEA/Swiss State officials, who reside with that State official while posted outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland on diplomatic or consular missions, shall be deemed to be resident in their home EU/EEA/Swiss State for the purposes of the residency clause of the Free Fees Initiative

C. Students must not already have a degree or previous 3rd level attendance

Prior Attendance

Degree graduates

No graduate - regardless of where, when or how the degree was obtained - qualifies for free tuition.

If a student has a postgraduate qualification without having completed a primary degree they will not qualify for free fees if they chose to pursue an undergraduate programme.

Students who have completed and been awarded a level 7 “Ordinary” degree

Where a student has been awarded a level 7 degree and wishes to progress to a level 8 degree they may be entitled to free fees for their first attempt at the ‘add on’ years (stages) necessary to complete their level 8 qualification. It is intended to allow students who have completed a Level 6 or 7 programme and wish to undertake a related Level 8 and desire to be eligible under the Free Fees Initiative for the duration of the “add-on” years of the related Level 8 programme.

However, the Initiative also provides for students who may only receive a partial exemption for the normal course duration, i.e. in circumstances where a student may only receive an exemption from 2 years of the Level 8 programme instead of 3.

Students who hold a Level 7 qualification, and who were approved under the Free Fees Initiative for the programme, and who undertake a new Level 8 programme from year one cannot be considered as progressing for the purpose of Free Fees Initiative. In this case, the Level 8 programme would be considered as a second undergraduate programme and not eligible under the Free Fees Initiative. However, students may be entitled to free tuition fees for the final year of their Level 8 programme i.e. if they level 7 degree was of 3 year’s duration then they will be entitled to free fees for the 4th and subsequent years only

Students who have attended but have not completed a Level 6, 7 or 8 programme

A student who has attended a third level course within the EU/EEA, Swiss Confederation in the past five years, and has not completed the course, will be liable for all fees for the equivalent period that s/he was in attendance.

Note: This regulation applies whether or not the institution attended was publicly/government funded or was private or fee-paying.

3. Other Information

Exceptions

Students who attend repeat years in exceptional circumstances such as certified serious illness.

Where grading exemptions in extenuating circumstances have been approved by the School’s Programme Board tuition fees will not be charged for the modules thus graded. Where grading exemptions have not been awarded application must be made to the Fees and Grants Office enclosing detailed medical certificates and details of hospitalisation etc and/or other evidence where relevant. See: withdrawing from a programme.

NOTE: students who change college / university for reasons of illness cannot claim eligibility for free fees in a different college / university. Free fees apply only if the student returns to the same college / university and the same programme.

Withdrawing from a programme

If a student decides to withdraw from a programme and is in receipt of Free Fees there are consequences that they must be aware of.

If a student withdraws from a programme for which free fees are claimed they will be held liable for all tuition fees for the equivalent period of attendance if they decide to attend another 3rd level programme in the Republic of Ireland.

5. Undergraduate students not eligible for free tuition

Students not eligible for 'free' fees fall into four categories:

EU/EEA/Swiss students who do not meet all the criteria for free fees

EU/EEA/Swiss students who already have a degree or EU/EEA/Swiss students who have had prior 3rd level attendance and must pay fees for the equivalent period of attendance (half year, full year and so on).
[Official verification in writing of duration of attendance and the extent to which free fees have been claimed by the previous 3rd level college must be provided]

Non-EU students who qualify for "EU" fees* (but not free fees)

All other students

* Non-EU students who may qualify for the standard rate of EU fees must apply to the University for approval. For further details please refer to our website.

Fees should be paid online, this is the best and fastest way to pay.
Or you may request UCD-issued fee payment form (bank giro) via SISWEB. This may be used to pay fees in any bank in the Republic of Ireland.
For further details about making payment please refer to our website.